Improvement in devices for securing corks in bottles



, O MICHEL Devicefor-Securihg GOrks in Bottles.

Patented Sept. 17,1878.

N. PETERS. PHOTO-.ITHOGRAPHER WASHmGTDN a c UNITED STATE PATENT OEEIoE.

CHARLES MICHEL, OF LA CROSSE, WISCONSIN.

IMPROVEMENT IN DEVICES FOR SECURING CORKS IN BOTTLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 208,193, dated September 17, 1878 application filed August 12, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES MICHEL, of La Crosse, in the county of La Crosse and State of WVisconsimhave invented certain 1mprovements in Devices for Securing Corks in Bottles, of which the following is a specification:

My invention relates to a peculiar device for temporarily securing corks in beer bottles while they are undergoing the ordinary steaming treatment to prevent the secondary'fermentation of the beer, the device consisting of a conical cap provided with an internal inclined flange, and composed of two equal parts hinged together and fastened by means of an encircling band, in the manner hereinafter described.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my fastening device; Fig. 2, a cross-section of the same applied to a bottle.

The device consists, as shown in the drawings, of a conical or tapering metallic cap, A, having on the inside an annular shoulder, b. The cap is divided, as shown, centrally into two parts, a a, which are united on one side by a hinged joint, 0, this joint permitting the cap to be opened and applied around the neck of the bottle, with its shoulder b engaging under that of the bottle. the cap meanwhile covering the cork and holding the same in place. For the purpose of fastening the cap upon the bottle I employ a loose ring or band, B, which, being forced down over the conical cap, presses-its two parts inward snugly around the neck of the bottle. Owing to the tapering form of the cap, and the fact that it can open to a greater or less extent, it may be readily applied to bottles of all ordinary sizes and forms in such manner as to hold the corks securely therein.

In making use of my device the bottles are filled and corked in the ordinary manner, but the usual fastening devices omitted. My cap or temporary fastening device is then applied and secured in place, and the bottles submitted for a suitable length of time to the action of steam or otherwise heated until the yeast remaining therein is, in the language of the art, killed. The bottles are then permitted to cool gradually, and, after being thoroughly cooled, the caps are removed, and the beer is then in condition to be put upon the market andto be kept for a great length of time without danger of the corks being blown out. The caps are employed during the steaming process for the purpose of preventing the corks from being blown from the bottles by the extremely high pressure which is generated therein.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is The device for securing corks in bottles, consisting of the tapering halves a, hinged to each other and provided with the beveled flange b, and of the encircling band or ring B, as shown and described.

CHARLES MICHEL.

W'itnesses:

V. V. BARNES, ANGUS OAMERoN. 

